It’s been a long battle for 2-year-old Gloriella Aider. But, a scar the width of her torso is evidence that things are looking up for the toddler. She received a liver transplant 3 months ago.
Gloriella was suffering from liver failure. An adult donor liver became available but surgeons at St. Louis Children’s Hospital knew the adult liver was too big for Gloriella. After running several tests, the transplant team realized they may be able to save two lives with the donated liver.
A phone call was made to a Southern Illinois resident Synthia Hansen. The mother and child mental health therapist was also in liver failure.
What happened next was a procedure so rare it only happens three times a year at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Surgeons would operate on the liver three times in order to conduct a split liver transplant. First, the liver would be split into two pieces. From there, the smaller piece would be transplanted into Gloriella and the larger piece would be transplanted into Synthia.
“I knew the Lord had heard my prayer and he was with her,” said Gloriella’s mother, Gloria Aider.
Both patients were transplanted successfully.
Dr. William Chapman, Chief of Transplantation at Washington University explained, “the stars have to align.” Dr. Chapman says the liver has to not only be suitable for splitting but needs to be able to regenerate. The adult also has to be small in stature because they are only getting two-thirds of the donated liver.
5 On Your Side was there as Gloriella and Synthia met for the first time.
“I thought about [Gloriella] all this time. In the hospital, I thought this is so hard I can’t imagine being such a little person and having to go through this pain,” said Synthia.
“[Synthia’s] a fighter like Gloriella,” said Gloria Aider.
